We've seen the new Android-based
XPERIA X10 from Sony Ericsson at a
fast pace and a
snail's pace, but have we ever seen it so stunningly middle of the road? We just got a chance to play with the phone in person for the second time, and from our random sampling of three or four different handsets, it seems that performance is very contingent upon how much content is loaded into the device and what particular thing it's trying to perform. Sometimes we'd fly through the stacks of faces, while other times we'd sit there waiting for the simplest thumbnails to load up. The good news is that we have until next year to see this thing really come together, and the word is that the software is improving and at a rapid pace. The big change about this phone is the "Nexus" UX platform, which actually all takes place in two "apps" at the moment, Timescape and Mediascape. Timescape is an integrated view for social networking and messaging, with an "infinite view" to see all types of communications for a particular person, while Mediascape is a more tame media app with a modicum of internet and social integration. It all seems very logically placed, and we like the fact that SE hasn't really sacrificed the Android experience -- you can still do Gmail and the Android Market and so forth, with very familiar UIs -- but it's going to have to be a lot more bulletproof before it hits the market if Sony Ericsson really expects us to use this day to day. Oh, also: the soft keyboard is terrible. We hear they're working on it, but boy does it need work.
Update: We've added the video below, go check it out!
posted November 18th 2009 3:03PM
Since this one is semi-intelligent(though still ultimately misguided), I'll take the time to respond. Where did you get the $650 from? As far as I've seen they haven't announced anything about pricing so even if that's a quote of the unsubsidized price, it's still fabricated. Also, even if that ended up being the unsubsidized price, I don't know of a single smartphone that's $49 unsubsidized. Hell, I'm fairly sure there's no dumbphone you can get for $49 without a contract.
At any rate, why don't we just wait to hear something on pricing and carrier before assuming it's that expensive and then using that as an argument against it, k?
If history tells us anything, he is exactly right...
k?
Sony Erricson has to pull something off to stop their hemorrhaging stock prices. Maybe a price cut and strong US release could do that. I am with Mark, let us wait and see.
@Dan Davis: History also told us that Apple was incapable of building any widespread interest in their products, that Microsoft was incapable of making any decent products, that Motorola couldn't make a halfway decent smartphone to save their lives, etc, etc, etc. The times, they are a-changin'.
@Mark: So you're saying that just because BMW doesn't sell as many cars as GMC that implies that BMW fails at generating interest in people?. Just because a company doesn't sell high volume (Apple) It doesn't translate into a lack of ability to build interest in people. There are more variables involved.
What history has told us si that you are an obvious troll and that sacapuntas is your alt, k?
@Strangelove
I don't think you understand Mark's point. I suggest re-reading his last statement.
Strangelove, your reading comprehension is absolutely putrid. Mark was saying that IN THE PAST, Apple failed to generate interest in their products, but now, since "times are a' changin'", history is not an accurate prediction of the future, because Apple now has quite a bit of mindshare.
Multi touch keyboard? Multi touch anything? Android 2.x?
Ya know, we could get into that argument of why it's running a 1.6 skin, or why it doesn't have multitouch, so-on, so-forth..
...or we could just stare at your avatar =]...
Yeah, I am getting tired of being disappointed time after time with equipment that is running out of date firmware, and a lackluster skin.
This is more of the same, just pictures of an already exposed phone. What I would really appreciate is the HD2 review.
MEGA multi touch! I hope :]....
I might be the only one here, reading your comments, but I love the looks of this phone and plan on buying one ASAP.
I think that everyone jumping to conclusions with 3 months of development still to go is premature to say the least.
It's just an awesome device, multimedia-wise wins hands down VS the HD2: Better videos, photos and screen, all organized in a nice interface (and this has already been delivered).
I say it's a good move by SE.
An Italian Sony Ericsson employee has officially announced that the device will come out in february and that it will be priced at €500 (that is euros!).
On another site the same guy has confirmed the upgrade to the 2.0 software on the x10 along with a better screen explaining that android 1.6 allowed them to develop the interface (Rachael) without waiting for 2.0 to be out. He added that the screen update is also possible due to the "eclair" update which will support millions of colors (in 1.6 that is not possible).
Here is the link to the video for those of you who speak Italian ;)
http://www.tvtech.it/video/516/sony-ericsson-xperia-ecco-android-secondo-se/
Ciao ;)
@pee tee
Isn't the camera 8 megapixel ?
Anyone know if the blue interface can be changed to another color? Obviously the XMB style background is just an image, but I dont really like the blue. I'd rather go with a onyx style color, more like the HD2.
might have been my next phone but 65k display is a NO...
@Pee Tee:
Please for the love of God, do check with the tech specs !
It has a 8.1 MP, Autofocus Camera w/ Dual LED !!!!!
Also, it would probably have multitouch support cause most modern LCD Touch Panels (Capacitive) Support them. The Donut update might bring it along :D
Is that a videocall camera at the top?
Not that I make that many videocalls, but for a high end device, I'd kinda expect to have it. I missed it in most Android phones so far...
I really don't get the videocall camera. Quality is bad, it's shaky and if you wanna send a picture do it with MMS. Also, I hate the occasional awkward silences...
Yeah?
So you like the whole 5fps thing with like 144x72 pixels and compression turned way up so those 144 pixels look like hmmm maybe 30 large ones?
Or maybe it's the poor quality out of sync audio that floats your boat?
Nothing quite as crap as video call over wireless cause regardless how many gigapixels and mega teslas you've got in your phone the video call still runs at the agreed standard.
Namely... This is a gimmick, please wait until we roll out the next network by oh 3-4 years, or maybe 7 if you happen to be on AT&T and then buy a new phone cause whatever your current handset is it won't do the as yet non-existent higher quality video cellular call
I agree the video quality is bad, but still better to have it than not to have it. It can't be that hard to build it in, since most 3G phones have it. (At least those released in Europe.)
Oh an it also comes handy as a mirror. ;)
Video calling has been around since 2004 and they have to keep it compatible with those old phones. Improving the quality now that the networks and phones aren't limited to 384 kbps anymore would be nice. But i still think i wouldn't use it, i don't think i have ever made a serious video call even though i have had phones that support it since 2005, it's just a pointless technology.
Says on the following site, that confirmation about 2.0 update and others coming.
No word about multitouch thou...
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=nl&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.allaboutphones.nl%2Fnieuws%2F3782%2FSony-Ericsson-Xperia-X10-krijgt-Android-20-update-16-miljoen-kleurenscherm.html%3Futm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Ballaboutphones%252Fnieuws%2B%2528All%2BAbout%2BPhones%2BNieuws%2Bfeed%2529%26utm_content%3DTwitter
"...the software is improving and a rapid pace"
the software is improving at* a rapid pace
@antyhil119,
Hey moron, it was "...and a rapid pace" when I copy-pasted it initially. Why the f*ck would I edit a copy-paste, only to correct it?
You know this thing called common sense, go find it.
Don't make me turn this car around, 'cause I will!
I seriously don't know what Engadget is smoking. The Timescape app looks very usable and sufficiently fast to me! I think it is even faster than the previous video in the 'fast-paced' link. The only lag I see is when you open up the Timescape application, but the sliding is very acceptable, especially now that we see it sliding multiple pages continuously. :/
Argh so far it sounds like this will fall a little short of awesomeness just like the BL40.
Still no HD2 review? Jesus christ, Engadget! You're busting my balls, man!
What comes first, the Engadget HD2 review or the HD2 release?
I read that HTC was slacking on the sending out the review models again.
@Ari dude... are you blind? http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_htd2-review-418.php
If no multi-touch or no updated OS, Sony Ericsson again going to fail like Xperia 1 and Satio. Sony, if you dont listen to your real fans, it will be no wonder you are going to shut down more of your centers. Please stop your production instead of producing handicapped smart phones. :(
Ok i take back what i said a few days ago in a comment.
This phone is pretty nice... :)
Can't anybody get these smartphones right?
Just watched the video and I just cant see any connection between the
text in the article and the video.. ok, you actually "demoed" the
keyboard by tapping 2-3 random characters and got annoyed by the T9
which you can limit or turn off (seen on youtube vids).. come on guys ;)
I think this video was shot after his hands on.
At least It seems that was by his familiarity with the menus
I just hope Sony will sell this phone unlocked and unbranded. I'm kinda getting tired of all the wireless providers requiring special (and expensive) data plans for smartphones.
I know right. Wi-Fi FTW.
i've had two Sony phones and both had the same inconsistent speed issues. sometimes they would fly through texts with ease and sometimes i would have to wait to pull up a menu. rather annoying. im not planning on buying a Sony phone ever again.
The touch looks like it sucks. For the contacts it is going to take forever to get down to the last contact since there is no way to scroll down faster. Like the iphone has the alphabet down the right side to quickly go to different contacts. Also it seems like they are counting on every contact to have a picture. Its going to look stupid going through the contacts with just blank pictures and names.
@larryryan0824
That's not the contacts app! Jesus.
After today's Sony-Ericsson News, I almost feel like buying one out of guilt. Poor folks.
Huge improvements but still not snappy. As noted no Android 2.0 and multi-touch at launch isn't great. I'm also disappointed in the lack of OLED screen.
From: http://blogs.extranet.sonyericsson.com/products/
"Will the X10 receive Android 2.0 update (for those who bought from the initial batches with Android 1.6) ?
The UX platform used for Xperia X10 will evolve to Android 2.0 over time."
"Will it have multi-touch in future updates?
Xperia X10 has a capacitive screen. It does not support multi-touch functionality at launch, but is considered for the future."
How does the list of contacts look when all the photos are not all proportional too each other with a nice glowing white aura behind each person? If this is pulling the images from Facebook they most certainly will not all look like that.
This UI just seems like too much sparkle for me.
Can someone please answer me this phone question? (unrelated)
Why are "unsubsidized" phones 300+, but if you buy one of the toss away month to month jobs, you can get them for as low as 30 in some cases?
Yes, I know you can't activate one on a normal monthly plan (not the point).
Aren't the sellers basically taking a chance of someone using it for a month and stopping, or are the phones really that cheap to manufacture and we are getting gouged?
Are you daft, or just incoherent? ;-)
No Jamie, I honestly don't know because I have never thought about it until today when I saw one in a store and idly wondered why.
I simply don't know.
@Ray While your question makes absolutely no sense, given its incoherence, I'll answer you oh poor lost soul.
Manufacturer make expensive and shiny phones, sell them for $600 on their Website.
AT&T and Verizon sell phone contracts, very expensive and overpriced one, so no one wants to buy one.
-random moron like you : "But HEY I still WANT my iPhone/N900/HTC HD2/ Hero /DROID !!! and I don't have $600"
-AT&T (or any other carrier) : " No prob bro' ! let's get inside and talk. So you want that $600 smartphone ? hum... and you don't have $600. huhu of course I see... that's tough ! if only one could SUBSIDIZE this phone so it costs ONLY $99 !!!"
-Random moron : " REALLY YOU COULD DO THAT ?!!"
-AT&T : " Sure as long as you accept to pay for an higly overpriced service that I'll provide with 0 garanties and sign in for 36 months."
Random Moron : " Oh thank you, thank you AT&T !"
Got it ?
@Félix
Ok, my mistake, didn't think it was that unclear.
I was referring to phones you get from say TracFone, VirginMobile, the ones that you buy in a package with a card for $60 for minutes.
I was curious why those are so much cheaper.